Monthly Archives: March 2013

by Yasoda nandana dasa

CON Trick from the Bogus GBC

March 24, 2013 in Articles, Mahesh Raja by Yasoda nandana dasa

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SrilaPrabhupada

 

  From: Mahesh Raja

  The bogus GBC want to play at being ACARYA who gives Diksa:

  http://harekrsna.com/sun/news/03-13/news4734.htm
 
 
 
 
So here is what they give as evidence to somehow or other try JUSTIFY their claim to be Diksa Guru:
“This Krishna consciousness movement directly receives instructions from the Supreme Personality of Godhead via persons who are strictly following His instructions. Although a follower may not be a liberated person, if he follows the supreme, liberated Personality of Godhead, his actions are naturally liberated from the contamination of the material nature. Lord Caitanya therefore says: ‘By My order you may become a spiritual master.’ One can immediately become a spiritual master by having full faith in the transcendental words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and by following His instructions.” Purport to SB 4.18.5
And…
“A person who is liberated acharya and guru cannot commit any mistake, but there are persons who are less qualified or not liberated, but still can act as guru and acharya by strictly following the disciplic succession.” Letter to Janardana, 26 April, 1968
And…
“We may not be cent percent perfect, but as far as possible, if we follow the instruction as it is, that much perfect. In this way one will get perfection. So one has to follow. The same example, try to understand, that a perfect, expert technologist or technician or mechanic is working, and somebody is working under his instruction. So this somebody, because he is strictly working under the instruction of the expert, he’s also expert. He may not be cent percent expert, but his work is expert. Is that clear? Because he is working under the expert. Do you follow? So if you follow pure devotee, then you are also pure devotee. It may not be one is cent percent pure. Because we are trying to raise ourself from the conditional life. But if we strictly follow the pure devotee, then we are also pure devotee. So far we do, that is pure. So pure devotee does not mean one has to become immediately cent percent pure. But if he sticks to the principle that “We’ll follow a pure devotee,” then his actions are… He is as good as a pure devotee. It is not I am explaining in my own way. It is the explanation of Bhagavata. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186].” Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.1-10 and Talk — Los Angeles, November 25, 1968
 
Note: there is BIG DIFFERENCE between ACT AS ACARYA and BEING AN ACARYA.
ACT AS ACARYA simply means OFFICIATING ACARYA. Officiating Acarya IS Ritvik. So as per July 9th 1977 Order confirms that 1st and 2nd Initiations are to be conducted by OFFICIATING ACARYA(RITVIK -REPRESENTATIVE OF ACARYA Srila Prabhupada)
770528me.vrn Conversations
Prabhupada: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to ACT AS OFFICIATING ACARYAS.
Tamala Krsna: Is that called rtvik-acarya?
Prabhupada: RTVIK, YES.
 
Note: OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE. The DUTIES are as per July 9th 1977 Ritvik Representative (Officiating Acarya) are DEFINED:
Madhya 24.330 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse
Similarly, a disciple’s qualifications must be observed by the spiritual master before he is accepted as a disciple. In our Krsna consciousness movement, the requirement is that one must be prepared to give up the four pillars of sinful life-illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. In Western countries especially, we first observe whether a potential disciple is prepared to follow the regulative principles. Then he is given the name of a Vaisnava servant and initiated to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, at least sixteen rounds daily. In this way the disciple renders devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE FOR at least six months to a year. He is then recommended for a second initiation, during which a sacred thread is offered and the disciple is accepted as a bona fide brahmana.
 
Note: Srila Prabhupada states indicates ACARYA is NOT a Kanistha. And ACARYA can NOT be appointed BY THE GBC:
74-04-28. Letter: Rupanuga
You are right about Sridhara Maharaja’s genuineness. But in my opinion he is the best of the lot. He is my old friend, at least he executes the regulative principles of devotional service. I do not wish to discuss about activities of my Godbrothers but it is a fact they have no life for preaching work. All are satisfied with a place for residence in the name of a temple, they engage disciples to get foodstuff by transcendental devices and eat and sleep. They have no idea or brain how to broacast the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. My Guru Maharaja used to lament many times for this reason and he thought if one man at least had understood the principle of preaching then his mission would achieve success. In the latter days of my Guru Maharaja he was very disgusted. Actually, he left this world earlier, otherwise he would have continued to live for more years. Still he requested his disciples to form a strong Governing body for preaching the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. HE NEVER RECOMMENDED ANYONE TO BE ACARYA OF THE GAUDIYA MATH. BUT SRIDHARA MAHARAJA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISOBEYING THIS ORDER OF GURU MAHARAJA, AND HE AND OTHERS WHO ARE ALREADY DEAD UNNECESSARILY THOUGHT THAT THERE MUST BE ONE ACARYA. IF GURU MAHARAJA COULD HAVE SEEN SOMEONE WHO WAS QUALIFIED AT THAT TIME TO BE ACARYA HE WOULD HAVE MENTIONED. BECAUSE ON THE NIGHT BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY HE TALKED OF SO MANY THINGS, BUT NEVER MENTIONED AN ACARYA. HIS IDEA WAS ACARYA WAS NOT TO BE NOMINATED AMONGST THE GOVERNING BODY. HE SAID OPENLY YOU MAKE A GBC AND CONDUCT THE MISSION. SO HIS IDEA WAS AMONGST THE MEMBERS OF GBC WHO WOULD COME OUT SUCCESSFUL AND SELF EFFULGENT ACARYA WOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY SELECTED. SO SRIDHARA MAHARAJA AND HIS TWO ASSOCIATE GENTLEMEN UNAUTHORIZEDLY SELECTED ONE ACARYA AND LATER IT PROVED A FAILURE. THE RESULT IS NOW EVERYONE IS CLAIMING TO BE ACARYA EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE KANISTHA ADHIKARI WITH NO ABILITY TO PREACH. IN SOME OF THE CAMPS THE ACARYA IS BEING CHANGED THREE TIMES A YEAR. THEREFORE WE MAY NOT COMMIT THE SAME MISTAKE IN OUR ISKCON CAMP. ACTUALLY AMONGST MY GODBROTHERS NO ONE IS QUALIFIED TO BECOME ACARYA. So it is better not to mix with my Godbrothers very intimately because instead of inspiring our students and disciples they may sometimes pollute them.
 
Note: Although one can ACT AS OFFICIATING ACARYA in a NON-liberated platform they CAN NOT give DIKSA. This is WHY 1st and 2nd initiations are done ON BEHALF of Srila Prabhupada the LIBERATED ACARYA. THROUGHOUT the process of DIKSA the INITIATOR is ONE : Srila Prabhupada
 
Note:There may be many spiritual masters who instruct, but the INITIATOR spiritual master is ONE.
KB 80 The Meeting of Lord Krsna with Sudama Brahmana
Our next spiritual master is he who initiates us into transcendental knowledge, and he is to be worshiped as much as I am. The spiritual master may be more than one. The spiritual master who instructs the disciples about spiritual matters is called siksa-guru, and the spiritual master who initiates the disciple is called diksa-guru. Both of them are My representatives. There may be many spiritual masters who instruct, but the initiator spiritual master is one.
 
Note: NON-liberated OFFICIATING ACARYA can NOT transfer into YOUR heart Krsna. However DIKSA requires for Krsna to be TRANSFERED TO YOUR HEART in order that YOUR RELATIONSHIP (SVARUPA) is REVEALED: this has been explained in detail:
Reply to Nimai Pandit Prabhu and Rocana das
http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/?p=33002#comment-16956
 
Note: When Krsna is TRANSFERRED FROM Pure devotees(Srila Prabhupada) HEART to another Pure devotee then there is DIKSA. Divya jnana revelation of ones CONSTITUTIONAL positon Svarupa is UNDERSTOOD. This may take many many many births — NOT so cheap.
SB 10.2.18 P Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Krsna in the Womb
As indicated here by the word manastah, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was transferred from the core of Vasudeva’s mind or heart to the core of the heart of Devaki. WE SHOULD NOTE CAREFULLY THAT THE LORD WAS TRANSFERRED TO DEVAKI NOT BY THE ORDINARY WAY FOR A HUMAN BEING, BUT BY DIKSA, INITIATION. THUS THE IMPORTANCE OF INITIATION IS MENTIONED HERE. UNLESS ONE IS INITIATED BY THE RIGHT PERSON, WHO ALWAYS CARRIES WITHIN HIS HEART THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, ONE CANNOT ACQUIRE THE POWER TO CARRY THE SUPREME GODHEAD WITHIN THE CORE OF ONE’S OWN HEART.
Divya-jnana means : Divya TRANSCENDENTAL and Jnana means KNOWLEDGE
So UNLESS one is on TRANSCENDENTAL PLATFORM means Uttama Adhikari (Maha Bhagavata) there can NOT be any question of Transcendental Knowledge of ones CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION coming FROM him. THIS EFFECTIVLY DISQUALIFIES KANISTHA AND MADHYAM (MIDDLE STAGE) FROM GIVING DIKSA — AUTOMATICALLY.
Hrde means heart and Prokasito means revealed just as in prakasa – manifested Krsna becomes manifest in the heart of the Pure Devotee.
 
760711CC.NY Lectures
Prabhupada: Divya-jnana hrde prokasito. What is that divya-jnana? Divya-jnana is that we are all servant of Krsna, and our only business is to serve Krsna. Divya-jnana. This is divya-jnana. It is not difficult at all. Simply we have… We have become servant of so many things–servant of society, servant of community, servant of country, servant of wife, servant of children, servant of dog and so many. “Now let me become servant of Krsna.” This is divya-jnana. Diksa. Diksa means from this divya-jnana. That is di. And ksa means ksapayati, expands.
When at the stage of Madhyama Adhikari one is RECEPIENT of THAT Diksa in the HEART from SRILA PRABHUPADA he becomes a SERVANT OF KRSNA. He relishes a particular mellow (Rasa) of his relationship with Krsna. This point HE SEES KRSNA and HIS RELATIONSHIP (svarupa) is established. So it is not so CHEAP to be Diksa guru.
 
Madhya 8.83 Talks Between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya
The purport in presenting this verse necessitates explaining the comparative positions of the transcendental mellows known as santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya. All these rasas, or mellows, are situated on the transcendental platform. Pure devotees take shelter of one of them and thus progress in spiritual life. Actually one can take shelter of such spiritual mellows only when one is completely uncontaminated by material attachment. When one is completely free from material attachment, the feelings of the transcendental mellows are awakened in the heart of the devotee. That is svarupa-siddhi, the perfection of one’s eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord. Svarupa-siddhi, the eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord, may be situated in one of the transcendental mellows.

 

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by Damaghosa dasa

Following instruction of a pure devotee is better than following Krsnas !

March 19, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

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NitaiGauranga

SB 9/4/63 TEXT 63
TEXT
Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said to the brahmana: I am completely under the control of My devotees. Indeed, I am not at all independent. Because My devotees are completely devoid of material desires, I sit only within the cores of their hearts. What to speak of My devotee, even those who are devotees of My devotee are very dear to Me.

 

 

 

PURPORT

All the great stalwart personalities in the universe, including Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, are fully under the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully under the control of His devotee. Why is this? Because the devotee is anyabhilasita-sunya; in other words, he has no material desires in his heart. His only desire is to think always of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and how to serve Him best. Because of this transcendental qualification, the Supreme Lord is extremely favorable to the devotees—indeed, not only the devotees, but also the devotees of the devotees. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche  keba: without being a devotee of a devotee, one cannot be released from material entanglement.

 

Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu identified Himself as gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah. Thus he instructed us to become not directly servants of Krsna but servants of the servant of Krsna. Devotees like Brahma, Narada, Vyasadeva and Sukadeva Gosvami are directly servants of Krsna, and one who becomes a servant of Narada, Vyasadeva and Sukadeva, like the six Gosvamis, is still more devoted. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura therefore says, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah: ** if one very sincerely serves the spiritual master, Krsna certainly becomes favorable to such a devotee.FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF A DEVOTEE IS MORE VALUABLE THAN FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD DIRECTLY.

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

ACCEPTING THE LINE OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION

March 18, 2013 in Articles, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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SrilaPrabhupadaRecordingACCEPTING THE LINE OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION

from www.krishnapath.org

“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is none other than the combined form of Sri Radha and Krsna. He is the life of those devotees who strictly follow in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami. Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami are the two principal followers of Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, who acted as the most confidential servitor of Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, known as Visvambhara in His early life. A direct disciple of Srila Rupa Gosvami was Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. The author of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, stands as the direct disciple of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.

The direct disciple of Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, who accepted Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti as his servitor. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura accepted Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji, who initiated Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who in turn initiated Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, the spiritual master of Om Visnupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, the divine master of our humble self…. The subject matter of this book is not a mental concoction but a factual spiritual experience that one can realize only by accepting the line of disciplic succession described above. Any deviation from that line will bewilder the reader’s understanding of the mystery of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, which is a transcendental literature meant for the postgraduate study of one who has realized all the Vedic scriptures such as the Upanisads and Vedanta-sutra and their natural commentaries such as Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Bhagavad-gita.”
(From the Caitanya Caritamrita Adi-Lila Chapter 1 [authorized 1975 edition]: The Spiritual Masters)

It is very interesting to note that the above disciplic succession referred to here has nothing to do with the formalities of Initiation as it is known in modern ISKCON today. It is referring to the authorized disciplic Succession based on the transfer of realization from one devotee to another. Not the formalities of who chants on ones beads, gives a name or performs a formal fire Yajna, where the initiate makes his vows before the sacred fire and deity. In fact, often case, such as with Narottama dasa Thakura and Visvanatha Cakravarti they never even met! So there is no possibility for there to have been a formal ceremony between them. Furthermore, Narottama underwent the formalities with Lokanatha not Krsnadasa.

Narottama appeared sometime in 1531 (exact date is unknown). His disciple was Ganga Narayana Cakravarti. Ganga Narayana’s disciple was Krishna Carana Cakravarti. Krishna Carana’s disciple was Radha Ramana Cakravarti, the formal guru of Visvanatha Cakravarti.

The exact year of Visvanatha’s birth is unknown. It is estimated to be somewhere between 1620-1640. He departed in 1708. So obviously due to the century difference between them they never even met. But Srila Prabhupada says that we get a “factual spiritual experience that one can realize only by accepting the line of disciplic succession described above.

This means that the way to have a factual spiritual experience is by hearing from the realized masters like Srila Prabhupada even if they are not physically present. It has nothing to do with the person that formally performs our initiation ceremony. It is a matter of what great personality (physically present or not) we are associating with through either meditation, service or hearing. Hearing can mean reading or hearing about him from a transparent source. But the connection or as Srila Prabhupada calls it “disciplic succession” is not based on formalities or physical presence. We also notice this in Srila Prabhupada’s introduction to the Bhagavad Gita this same conclusion is there. That disciplic succession is also not based on the person that performs ones initiation ritual. Thus the person performing the formalities of initiation chanting on beads and choosing a name is not the real spiritual connection. The disciplic succession is the person that we get our real transcendental wisdom from by reading there books or hearing their lectures etc (weather we have physically met them or not).

So if we are reading Srila Prabhupada’s books then Srila Prabhupada is our spiritual master.
(Please see the quotes at the end of this article for more information in this regard.)

It is even more interesting to notice that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura rejected his initiating guru Bipin Bihari Goswami due to a philosophical dispute. Later in a public meeting/debate of all the sadhus, to Bhaktivinoda’s great pleasure, his son, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami defeated Bipin Bihari Goswami. As a result we do not see his name in the disciplic succession.

So we must just catch the feet of the most recent topmost devotee Uttama-Adhikari and Acharya weather we are formally initiated by him or not. This is the process that Srila Prabhupada has instructed us to follow and even warns us that any deviation from this will bewilder us.

So we are so fortunate to have all Srila Prabhupada’s books, recorded audio and even hundreds of hours of free video’s for our spiritual growth. We must simply take advantage of this process of taking direct shelter of Srila Prabhupada for this is the disciplic succession that Srila Prabhupada has recommended above.

Here at Krishna Path we are very happy to offer you so much of Srila Prabhupada’s original authorized unadulterated books audio art etc for free. Please take full advantage of it and read and chant every day!

We are also in the process of redesigning Krishnapath.org so you can have a more enjoyable user-friendly experience.  The new website should be launched in a month or so. So stay tuned.

Hare Krishna!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

So there is nothing to be said new. Whatever I have to speak, I have spoken in my books. Now you try to understand it and continue your endeavor. Whether I am present or not present, it doesn’t matter.
(Arrival Speech – May 17, 1977, Vrndavana)

If I depart, there is no cause for lamentation. I will always be with you through my books and my orders. I will always remain with you in that way.”
(Back To Godhead vol.13 01/02, 1978)

Indian lady: Can the death of a spiritual master take to us, or I can get… Is that spiritual master still guiding after the death? (?)
Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Just like Krsna is guiding us, similarly, spiritual master will guide. We are being guided by Krsna, by the Bhagavad-gita. Although Krsna is not physically present, so-called… Krsna is present always. But even if we say that Krsna is not physically present as He was present before Arjuna, still, His book, Bhagavad-gita, is there.
(His Divine Grace Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Appearance Day, Lecture — London, September 3, 1971)

Indian Man(2): …like your company very much in Toronto and we feel like talk you so much, but we don’t have so much time to talk with you. You have so much mercy, so we have not… know so much about Krsna from you.
Prabhupada: So in my absence you read the books. What I talk, I have written in the books. That’s all.
Indian Man (2): Personally, we think more greater.
Prabhupada: That’s all right. But still, you can associate with me by reading my books.
(Morning Walk — August 7, 1975, Toronto)

Prajapati: In the Bhagavad-gita it is indicated by Sri Krsna that when we approach a bona fide spiritual master our relationship is twofold. We render service and then we also make inquiry.
Prabhupada: Yeah.
Prajapati: Now, you have answered all our inquiries so thoroughly in our books that to make inquiry at this point seems like…, you’ve already answered all the questions. So how may we… What is the proper relationship at that point to make inquiry?
Devotee (4): Read the books.
Prabhupada: Yes. Read the books, yes. Why I’m working so hard? Read the books. [break]
(Morning Walk – January 5, 1974, Los Angeles)

Lord Brahma heard the occult sound tapa, but he did not see the person who vibrated the sound. And still he accepted the instruction as beneficial for him, and therefore he engaged himself in meditation for one thousand celestial years. One celestial year is equal to 6 x 30 x 12 x 1000 of our years. His acceptance of the sound was due to his pure vision of the absolute nature of the Lord. And due to his correct vision, he made no distinction between the Lord and the Lord’s instruction. There is no difference between the Lord and sound vibration coming from Him, even though He is not personally present. The best way of understanding is to accept such divine instruction, and Brahma, the prime spiritual master of everyone, is the living example of this process of receiving transcendental knowledge. The potency of transcendental sound is never minimized because the vibrator is apparently absent. Therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam or Bhagavad-gita or any revealed scripture in the world is never to be accepted as an ordinary mundane sound without transcendental potency.
(SB 2.9.8)

one has to associate with liberated persons not directly, physically, but by understanding, through philosophy and logic, the problems of life.
(SB 3.31.48)

In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop.…You may please me the most by reading my books and following the instructions therein and by becoming fully Krishna Conscious in this life time.
(Letter to: Bahurupa Bombay 74-11-22)

I have instructed everything in my books.
(Letter to: Dina Dayala Mayapur 76-02-25)

Interviewer: You are the translator of many books, from what I understand.
Prabhupada: Yes. So that translation, the book, will speak how I have translated.
Interviewer: Um hm. I was wondering…
Prabhupada: You read the books, Then you’ll understand. Instead of asking me, you better read the books. That is real understanding.
(Interview with Newsweek – July 14, 1976, New York)

In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop. Krishna Consciousness is not a hackneyed thing but it is something which is our natural and original consciousness. Presently our consciousness is clouded just like a mirror becomes covered with dust So the cleansing process is this chanting and hearing and doing some service and trying to please the Spiritual Master. By this process our consciousness becomes clear and we are able to understand everything.
(Letter to: Bahurupa – Bombay 22 November, 1974)

Every one of you must regularly read our books at least twice — in the morning and evening, and automatically all questions will be answered.
(Letter to: Ranadhira – Los Angeles 24 January, 1970)

So utilize whatever time you find to make a thorough study of my books. Then all your questions will be answered.
(Letter to: Upendra – Nellore 7 January, 1976)

Reporter (2): What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die?
Prabhupada: I will never die.
Devotees: Jaya! Hari bol! (laughter)
Prabhupada: I shall live for my books, and you will utilize.
(Press Conference – July 16, 1975, San Francisco)

The merciful Lord left behind Him the great teachings of the Bhagavad-gita so that one can take the instructions of the Lord even when He is not visible to material eyesight. Material senses cannot have any estimation of the Supreme Lord, but by His inconceivable power the Lord can incarnate Himself to the sense perception of the conditioned souls in a suitable manner through the agency of matter, which is also another form of the Lord’s manifested energy. Thus the Bhagavad-gita, or any authentic scriptural sound representation of the Lord, is also the incarnation of the Lord. There is no difference between the sound representation of the Lord and the Lord Himself. One can derive the same benefit from the Bhagavad-gita as Arjuna did in the personal presence of the Lord.
(SB 1.15.27)

One who can see Srimad-Bhagavatam can see also Lord Sri Krsna in person. They are identical.
(SB 1.3.43)

arcye sila-dhir gurusu na… Gurusu means those who are acaryas, to accept their body as ordinary man’s body, this is denied in the sastras. So although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual master, vibration. What we have heard from the spiritual master, that is living.
(Lecture Excerpt – Los Angeles, January 13, 1969)

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Were YOU ordered to become a Diksa Guru?

March 17, 2013 in Articles, Bhakta Mark by Nityananda Rama dasa

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“This is Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mission. He says, “You become a spiritual master.” “How? I have no qualification.” “No. You just accept my order?” “So what is your order, sir?” Yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa: [Cc. Madhya 7.128] “You simply speak the instruction of Kṛṣṇa whoever you meet. Then you become a spiritual master.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.15 — Bombay, April 4, 1974)
Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, āmāra ājñāya guru haya tāra sarva- deśa, tāra ei deśa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. He’s asking everyone to become a spiritual master. So how everyone can become a spiritual master? A spiritual master must have sufficient knowledge, so many other qualifications. No. Even without any qualifications, one can become a spiritual master. How? Now the process is, Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, āmāra ājñāya: “On My order.” That is the crucial point. One does not become spiritual master by his own whims. That is not spiritual master. He must be ordered by superior authority. Then he’s spiritual master. Āmāra ājñāya. Just like in our case. Our superior authority, our spiritual master, he ordered me that “You just try to preach this gospel, whatever you have learned from me, in English.” So we have tried it. That’s all. It is not that I am very much qualified. The only qualification is that I have tried to execute the order of superior authority. That’s all. This is the secret of success. (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.2 — London, August 3, 1973)
Antya 6.312 – TRANSLATION:  He never touched anything to wear except a small torn cloth and a patchwork wrapper. Thus he very rigidly executed the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. PURPORT:  The principle of very rigidly carrying out the order of the spiritual master must be observed.   The spiritual master gives different orders to different people. For example, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Jīva Gosvāmī, Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī to preach, and He ordered Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī to strictly follow the rules and regulations of the renounced order.  All six Gosvāmīs strictly followed the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.  This is the principle for progress in devotional service. After receiving an order from the spiritual master, one must strictly try to execute the order.  That is the way of success.
Is there anyone out there in Iskcon who was EVER specifically ordered by Srila Prabhupada to become an INITIATING spiritual master and accept disciples on their own behalf?
I have seen no such evidence.  The only orders I have ever seen were to become instructor spiritual masters by preaching and instructing “exactly” as Srila Prabhupada instructed.  There is an incredibly broad latitude for becoming Instructing Spiritual master.  NOT SO FOR DIKSA GURU.
Regarding your question about the husband becoming the Spiritual Master of the wife, anyone who can give instructing in spiritual life is treated as Spiritual Master. There are two kinds of Spiritual Master, initiator and instructor. So the husband can help the wife as instructor. (Letter to: Himavati — Los Angeles 24 January, 1969)
“To answer your last point, one who teaches can be treated as Spiritual Master. It is not that after we become initiated we become perfect. No. It requires teaching. So if we take instruction from them, all senior godbrothers may be treated as guru, there is no harm. Actually, you have only one Spiritual Master, who initiates you, just as you have only one father. But every Vaisnava should be treated as prabhu, master, higher than me, and in this sense, if I learn from him, he may be regarded as guru. It is not that I disobey my real Spiritual Master and call someone else as Spiritual Master. That is wrong. It is only that I can call Spiritual Master someone who is teaching me purely what my initiating Spiritual Master has taught. Do you get the sense?” (Letter to: Sri Galim — Delhi 20 November, 1971)
“Śikṣā-guru does not mean he is speaking something against the teachings of the dīkṣā-guru. He is not a śikṣā-guru. He is a rascal.” (Bhagavad-gita 17.1-3 — Honolulu, July 4, 1974)
The GBC should all be the instructor gurus. I am in the initiator guru, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you must actually come to this platform. This I want. (Letter to: Madhudvisa: — Detroit 4 August, 1975)
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE DIKSA GURU OR INITIATING SPIRITUAL MASTER IS MEANT TO BE A MAHA BHAGAVATA, WORSHIPPED AS GOOD AS GOD.  In ISKCON we were instructed that was to include the following
1.        Obeisances offered to the Initiating Spiritual Master via PERSONAL Pranama Mantra 2.        Worship of that Diksa Guru on Vyasa Puja celebration 3.        Daily special Guru Puja to that Diksa Guru 4.        Worship of that Diksa Guru’s Murti or Picture on the same level as Deity worship.
“When one has attained the topmost position of mahä-bhägavata, he is to be accepted as a guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. Only such a person is eligible to occupy the post of a guru.” (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 24.330)
Srila Prabhupada: “One who has got this divya-jñāna, vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā, that is mahātmā. But that is very, very rare. Otherwise, mahātmā LIKE ME, they are loitering in the street. That is. So you should always remember this word, divya-jñāna hṛde prakāśito. And because the spiritual master enlightens the divya-jñāna, one feels obliged to him. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasya prasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi **. *So this guru-pūjā essential.* *As the Deity worship essential*… It is not cheap adoration. It is the process of enlightening the divya-jñāna.** (Lecture — Bombay, April 1, 1977)
My dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your letter dated January 21st, 1976. The photos of my murti are very nice. The murti of the Spiritual Master should be treated as good as the Deity. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair, uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih/kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya **, The guru should be treated as good as God. This is stated in all the sastras. The difference is that God is master-God and guru is servant-God. So the installation ceremony for such a murti should be similar to that done for other Deities. All Temples can have this Deity if they like. But Temples which have only Panca-tattva painting worship should not be given this Deity. You should make a murti of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and then they may be worshiped together as is now being done in our Krishna Balarama Temple. They should be placed with Gaura Nitai—Guru Gauranga. (Letter to: Karandhara — Mayapur 29 January, 1976)
Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter dated Jan. 3rd and have noted the contents. It is nice that you are enthusiastically engaged in New York. I have no objection to your worshiping my murti for Guru Puja. But for placing in the temple there must be a pair of murtis, (my Guru Maharaja must be there) as in Krsna-Balarama Mandir, and they must be permanently installed. This may be done in accord with the temple authorities. Or else you may worship one murti of myself privately in your room. (Letter to: Sudama — Allahabad 13 January, 1977)
And if that isn’t obvious enough for you brainiacs, how about the fact that IF INDEED ALL THE DEVOTEES “GIVING DIKSA” IN ISKCON WERE MAHABHAGAVATAS CAPABLE OF BEING INITIATING SPIRITUAL MASTERS, THE GBC WOULD BE IN THE DEFAULT POSITION OF APARADHIS ACCORDING TO SRILA RUPA GOSWAMI.
Prabhupada “It is also an offense to consider an empowered Vaiṣṇava an object of disciplinary action. It is offensive to try to give him advice or to correct him. One can distinguish between a neophyte Vaiṣṇava and an advanced Vaiṣṇava by their activities. The advanced Vaiṣṇava is always situated as the spiritual master, and the neophyte is always considered his disciple. The spiritual master must not be subjected to the advice of a disciple, nor should a spiritual master be obliged to take instructions from those who are not his disciples. This is the sum and substance of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s advice in the sixth verse.”   NOI 6
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Sorry kids.  NO MORE DIKSA GURUS NEEDED IN ISKCON TEMPLES.
Why don’t all you neophytes who can’t live a moment without being worshiped and cannot accept the humble position of a priest, simply take all your disciples out of Srila Prabhupada’s temples and start your own, write your own god-damned books, show us how wonderful and glorious you really are?
Leave Iskcon’s properties of all forms to those devotees who actually want to live according to the rules and regulations set down by the Founder.   Then in the future you are always welcome to apply for affiliation to Iskcon.  But why would you want to?  After all since you are such glorious MahaBhagavatas, by that time your asramas will have surpassed Iskcon by leaps and bounds!
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by Damaghosa dasa

Material life is conditional and spiritual life is without ANY condition-SP

March 7, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

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Hare Krsna to all

Pranams

All glories to Prabhupada

We sent out an email recently  by Bhaktivinode Thakur , detailing the conditions upon which the soul enters this world and therefore material consciousness. This began with the threadlike false ego, then intelligence, then mind, and finally the other senses so that eventually one is fully  in the bodily or material concept of life.

In this conversation with Srila Prabhupada , he tells us how one individual soul co-inhabits and controls one body in the midst of millions of other souls in various cells.

He also describes how we can only act with our senses if “conditions” are favorable for them to act. Example-the eyes need light to work-that is a condition, and similarly for all the other senses. So our entire existence within this body is conditional upon other things. This means we are not free to do anything, without higher sanction.   And the more we become free of these “conditions” the more we can approach that which is  “Truth”-or, reality distinguished from illusion.

In the next talk Srila Prabhupada explains non conditioned life-spiritual life in the spiritual world and how so many souls can live within different forms of life, like flowers, trees, plants water, earth, etc and serve Krsna in that way.

Hari bol

Damaghosa das

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740714mw.la                 Conversations
Svarupa Damodara: We were discussing that in all the living bodies, we have these innumerable cells, living cells. And in these cells… We were just discussing whether the Paramatma and the jivatma is still there even in the living cells.  Prabhupada: Yes. Yes.  Svarupa Damodara: It is. It is there. So actually our body’s a combination of these so many living entities.  Prabhupada: Atoms, yes. Why not? The every living entity is one ten-thousandth part of the tip of a hair. So many hairs are there. And that is one ten-thousandth part of the top of the hair. Where is the difficulty.
Bali Mardana: So there is one jivatma who’s in control of the body. The others are subservient.
Prabhupada: Yes. Jivatma is everywhere. But you have got your own field. Just like for agricultural purpose you have got a big field, but there are so many millions of microbes and…
Bali Mardana: Yes.
Prabhupada: But it is your field. Not that when you go out of the field one of them becomes you. No, that is not. That is individuality. When you leave, you leave your field. That’s all.

Bali Mardana: So when we leave the field, then the other cells in the body also leave their field.
Prabhupada: Yes, therefore the germs come out as soon as it is proper time. So these nonsense, they do not know that, that the… Creating life, the ingredients… If they say that material combination makes life, so material combination is there already. Why the, that man is not coming? That is… He’s individual, and they are also individual. I have got my field. I am individual. I leave it. But because there are so many other microbes, they will come as me. No, that is not possible.
Svarupa Damodara: Yes, yes, but temporarily, I cannot live without them.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Svarupa Damodara: I cannot live in my body without them.

Prabhupada: Without them… You cannot live with this material body without so many conditions. And that is also one of the conditions. You cannot live. Any condition, little disturbed… You become diseased; you become disturbed. So therefore it is called conditional life. You simply live here on condition. And spiritual life means nocondition. If the condition is favorable, then your senses will act. Otherwise you have got useless senses. If there is light, then you can see. You can become proud of your eyes. “Can you show me God?” And what you can see, rascal? If God gives you light, then you can see.  You see under condition. And still, he’s very proud of his eyes. “Can you show me God?” This is going on. Rascal, what you can see? So we are conditioned. And still, we are searching out the truth. What is your truth? You are conditioned.
Bali Mardana: So they only end up with a conditioned truth, a relative truth.
Prabhupada: Yes. The more you are not conditioned, the more your finding out truth is perfect. But it is not possible for you to become completely unconditioned. That is not possible. That is mukta purusa, liberated. Therefore we have to take knowledge from the person who is not conditioned. That is perfect knowledge. And one who is conditioned, what is the value of his giving knowledge? So therefore we don’t accept any knowledge from the conditioned souls. Conditioned soul is imperfect by the four deficiencies. Bhrama, pramada… He must commit mistake. So what is the value of his knowledge? There is no value. We take knowledge from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is unconditioned. There is a verse in the Srimad-Bhagavata: esad isanam isasya. That is God. God means He becomes, He comes within this material world, but He’s not conditioned. That is Krsna.
Bali Mardana: And His representative.
Prabhupada: Yes. The whole thing is managed by the law of gravitation, but when Krsna lifted the hill, there was no weight. He’s not conditioned by the law of gravity. He can lift up. We cannot do because we are conditioned. And when they cannot understand God’s inconceivable power, they think it is all mythology. Because he is a rascal, he thinks Krsna also rascal.
Bali Mardana: They try to put Krsna within the framework of their own…
Prabhupada: Yes. Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam. Because Krsna is kindly become visible to our eyes, these rascals immediately take Him as one of us. By His kindness He’s coming to be visible by us, to listen Him, His instructions, but these mudhas will take Him as ordinary human being. Mudha nabhijanati mam ebhyah param avyayam.
Svarupa Damodara: So the consciousness, my consciousness… The consciousness of those living cells are dependent on my consciousness.
Prabhupada: No, that consciousness is not developed. It is not equal to your consciousness. Just like a child’s consciousness is not equal to your consciousness because he’s not yet developed, similarly, this human life is the full-fledged… Not full-fledged. Almost full demonstration of consciousness. We have to utilize it for higher understanding. From material conditions, the consciousness develops. On account of loss of consciousness, they become godless. So it
requires time. So this Hare Krsna movement is to help them to develop consciousness very quickly. Yes. Otherwise, it will take millions of years. Manusyanam sahasresu kascit yatati siddhaye. We are helping
people to develop that original consciousness very quickly. (break)

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750520SB.MEL                   Lectures
Devotee (1): Srila Prabhupada, you were saying that because the body has arms and legs, then the coat has a similar shape. Then does the spirit soul that’s within our body have arms and legs like that?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Devotee (1): Would the spirit soul that is within, say, a cow’s body,
is in a different shape?
Prabhupada: Yes. It has got also legs. But the shape has taken according to his desire. Every animal has got these four things. Just like bird, it has got two wings, two legs. The animal has got four legs. And the man has got two hands, two legs. So the same parts of the body, they are appearing in a different type. But the four limbs of the body are there. Hm?
Devotee (2): Is the original body of the spirit soul a human form?
Madhudvisa: The question is that whether the eternal form of the
spirit soul is a human form or is it…
Prabhupada: Yes, human form. God is also human form. “Man is made after the shape of God.” I think there is in the Bible. Is it not? So God is also like human form. Here you see Krsna, two hands, two legs.

Hari-sauri: How do we understand, then, that there are peacocks and flowers and trees in the spiritual world? Are these not eternal forms?

Prabhupada: Yes. They are more covered. Just like if you cover your body with blanket, the hands and legs are invisible. But you are not
the blanket. So the trees and plants, they are more covered. They are not in full manifestation. The human form is the full manifestation of the soul.
Hari-sauri: They are covered in the spiritual world?
Madhudvisa: He is asking if they were actually covered in the
spiritual world as well.
Prabhupada: Not in the spiritual world. There that is voluntary. Some  devotee wants to serve Krsna as flower; they become flower there. If I want that “As a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna,”
he becomes flower, voluntarily. And he can change his…, from flowerto human body. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Krsna as cow, he serves Krsna as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham. That is Krsna’s all-powerfulness, spiritual life.

 

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Law Books for Mankind: The Final Authority

March 3, 2013 in Articles, Narasimha Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

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Recently I saw on the internet a discussion wherein an Iskcon “guru” was disputing a purport found in one of Srila Prabhupada’s original, authorized editions of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. This sannyasi has determined that this often quoted book purport is wrong. He apparently made this determination based on his great erudition and knowledge of Bengali. He contends that his study of the Bengali purports of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati (purports Srila Prabhupada has based his own purports upon) has revealed that the book version is incorrect, even though Srila Prabhupada was highly pleased with these publications and read and lectured from them many times.

 

The original version found in the book is as follows: One should not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking, “I am a first-class. devotee.” Such thinking should be avoided. It is best not to accept any disciples. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 7.130, Purport.) The swami says this purport should read: One should not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking, “I am a first-class devotee, so it is best not to accept any disciples.” Such thinking should be avoided.

 

I am not a Bengali scholar and have not studied Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s purports to this verse, but I do know English fairly well and have carefully studied all of Srila Prabhupada’s books in English. The version found in the book is consistent with the siddhanta found throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books. The version of the swami, however, contradicts siddhanta. There is significant difference in meaning between these two versions.

The first version cited above, as found in the authorized books, is clear. It says devotees should not think of themselves to be paramahamsas simply because, as Damaghosa mentions, they may have been following the basic regulative principles and chanting the minimum of 16 rounds for a few years. Such following is the qualification for being a disciple, not a guru. Srila Prabhupada concludes his statement above, clearly saying, “It is best not to accept any disciples.” Throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books the emphasis is on the strict sadhana required to become a bona fide disciple. Srila Prabhupada never ordered, authorized or suggested ecclesiastical arrangements for electing “gurus”. Nor did he suggest one should adopt the office and status of spiritual master on his own initiative, without full authorization and realization.

Unfortunately, most of us modern men are sloppy readers and writers, as is seen constantly in legislative assemblies, newspapers, magazines, and even scholarly journals. Most experienced English teachers and editors will agree on this point. Srila Prabhupada’s original books have been carefully proofed by qualified editors. The standard is high, with very few, if any, glaring errors that severely distort the intended meaning. English is a complex and precise language in word definitions, grammar and structure, but sadly it is often misused, miswritten or misunderstood by sloppy readers and writers, the poorly educated, and those with ulterior motives, such as lawyers and politicians. Srila Prabhupada, on the other hand, had perfect command of the English language, particularly in writing. He required no editors; yet by his causeless mercy he engaged qualified disciples in this service.

The swami’s version of this purport perverts the meaning drastically. He puts Srila Prabhupada’s statement “It is best not to accept any disciples” within the quotation marks that Prabhupada uses to illustrate the type of thinking that should be avoided. In other words, the swami’s version says, “One should not think himself too exalted to take on the botherations involved in accepting disciples.” The book version, on the other hand, shows no quotation marks on the statement “It is best not to accept disciples.” This statement appears as Srila Prabhupada’s clear warning that one should not become a spiritual master on his own initiative, without specific authorization, full realization and empowerment from Sri Guru and Gauranga. (Although for most devotees it may be best to not accept any disciples, Krishna of course sometimes orders His pure devotees to descend to the material world to do so.)

Throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books he has repeatedly cited evidence that shows only a first-class devotee is qualified to become a genuine spiritual master and deliverer of fallen conditioned souls and that even such a qualified devotee never accepts disciples on his own initiative. The version promoted by the swami, however, disputes this idea by suggesting: One should avoid thinking: “I am a first-class devotee, [therefore, for me] it is best to not accept any disciples [since accepting disciples is the work of second-class and third-class devotees].”

We should carefully note the placement of quotation marks in these two versions. The second version is misleading. It gives emphasis to the idea that thinking “It best not to accept disciples” is the thinking that should really be avoided, not necessarily thinking “I am a first-class devotee.”  In other words, the swami’s version is structured in such a way as to suggest that it may be fine to think of oneself as a first-class devotee as long as he doesn’t use that as an excuse to avoid accepting disciples.

Such speculation, change and interpretation of Prabhupada’s original books creates a dangerous precedent. Devotees may come to believe that it is a good idea to analyze every book statement based on old archived manuscripts someone has dug up somewhere–manuscripts that have been transcribed from tapes long ago or recently by who knows who. Should we doubt statements we don’t like and go back to so-called “original” manuscripts, or even the writings of previous Acharyas, to determine what Prabhupada really meant? It seems odd to say, “The Caitanya-caritamrita Prabhupada gave us was a rushed job, so naturally it is full of serious mistakes, even though Prabhupada accepted it, read it and lectured from it many times. I am an advanced scholar, so let me offer the correct version.”

With all the book changes and speculation in Iskcon, the authority of Srila Prabhupada’s books has been undermined. If this continues, the authority of Prabhupada’s mission may become more and more obscured, as a floodgate of speculation is opened wide. We must all try to carefully maintain respect for the integrity and authority of Srila Prabhupada’s original books. Otherwise, the whole mission may eventually become severely adulterated or spoiled by misguided pundits and persons with false ambitions.

 

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Srila Prabhupada never appointed acharyas

March 2, 2013 in Articles, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

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Srila Prabhupada explained that his Guru Maharaja never appointed anybody as acharya. 
“…They wanted to create artificially somebody acharya,”…
Note:  1) The ISKCON GBC artificially created 11 acharyas in March of 1978.
            2)  If Srila Prabhupada wanted to appoint 11 acharyas [diksha-gurus] for ISKCON, why did he not directly say?
“He said so many things, and this point He missed? The real point?” 
Note: Similarly Srila Prabhupada said so many things in the last few months of 1977, and the real point He missed?
“…and they insist upon it. They declared some unfit person to become…”
– Srila Prabhupada, Conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay
Note:  And the GBC misheard, misunderstood, and misrepresented to the body of ISKCON devotees that 11 had been “appointed” as acharyas.  And they insisted upon it.  And they declared some unfit persons to become acharyas.
Note:  If His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada did not appoint anyone as acharya [or diksha guru] for His mission, what makes the leading secretaries of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada think that He would appoint one acharya or a group of acharyas for his mission, in direct contradiction of his criticism of this whole concept in August of 1976.
– Srila Prabhupada, Conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay, India  
Srila Prabhupada explains that there is no record that His Divine Grace Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura nominated “any acharya” after him.
“… I have also read specifically your articles on the matter of acharyas, wherein on the 14th paragraph I see the acharya shall be entitled to nominate in writing his successive acharya.
But we do not find any record where our Srila Prabhupada nominated any acharya after Him. Different persons have interpreted on this point, and everyone of our God brothers are acting as acharya, so this is a controversial point which I do not wish to enter into while we are proposing for co-operation…”
– Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Swami Bhagavata Maharaja, August 21, 1969, Los Angeles 
Note:  Where is the actual verifiable record that Srila Prabhupada [HDG ACBSP] “nominated any acharya after Him”?
Srila Prabhupada defines obedience. 
Srila Prabhupada:   “I may say many things to you, but when I say something directly to you, you do it. Your first duty is to do that, you cannot argue -‘Sir, you said to me do like this before’, no that is not your duty, what I say to you now you do it, that is obedience you cannot argue.”
–  Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture, April 14, 1975, Hyderabad 
Guru cannot be self-made.  Guru must be authorized. 
“Guru cannot be self-made. No. There is no such single instance throughout the whole Vedic literature. And nowadays, so many rascals, they are becoming guru without any authority. That is not guru. You must be authorised. Evam parampara-praptam imam ra… As soon as the parampara is….kalena yogo nasta parantapa, immediately finished. The spiritual potency finished. You can dress like a guru, you can talk big, big words, but it will never be effective.”
–  Srila Prabhupada, Lecture, February 27th 1977, Mayapur, India 
Guru must be authorized by the bona fide guru. 
“Self-made guru cannot be guru. He must be authorized by the bona fide guru. Then he’s guru. This is the fact…Similarly; bona fide guru means he must be authorized by the superior guru.”
– Srila Prabhupada, Lecture, Nectar of Devotion, October 31, 1972 
Guru must be authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. 
“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorised by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana.“
– Srimad Bhagavatam, 4.8.54, purport 
Guru must be ordered by his guru. 
Prabhupada: Try to understand. Don’t go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he’s ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody.
Result of Gaudiya Matha’s attempt to become more than guru.
“Why this Gaudiya Matha failed? Because they tried to become more than guru. [.] They declared some unfit person to become acharya. Then another man came, then another, acharya, another acharya.”
–  Srila Prabhupada, Conversation, August 16, 1976 
Position of the actual guru. 
“An actual guru always remains the servant of his own guru and the predecessor acharyas. Attempting to become a guru without one’s own guru’s order is a materialistic ambition. Accepting followers and circumventing one’s own guru is offensive.”
– My Glorious Master, by Bhurijana Dasa, 22-11: A Lost Son Visits Home 
Srila Prabhupada explains how he became the leader of the Krishna Consciousness movement.
Guru must be ordered by His guru.
Indian man: When did you become spiritual the leader of Krishna Consciousness?
Srila Prabhupada: What is that?
Brahmananda: He is asking when did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna Consciousness?
Srila Prabhupada: When my Guru Maharaja ordered me. This is the guru parampara.
Indian man: Did it…
Srila Prabhupada: Try to understand. Don’t go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru. “
– Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Lecture, October 28, 1975 
Guru must be authorized. Guru cannot be self-made.
Position of gurus without authority. 
“Guru cannot be self-made. No. There is no such single instance throughout the whole Vedic literature. And nowadays, so many rascals, they are becoming guru without any authority. That is not guru. You must be authorised. Evam parampara-praptam imam ra… As soon as the parampara is…kalena yogo nasta parantapa, immediately finished. The spiritual potency finished. You can dress like a guru, you can talk big, big words, but it will never be effective.”
– Srila Prabhupada, Lecture, February 27, 1977, Mayapur, India
Guru must be authorized by the bona fide guru. 
“Self-made guru cannot be guru. He must be authorized by the bona fide guru. Then he’s guru. This is the fact…Similarly; bona fide guru means he must be authorized by the superior guru.”
– Srila Prabhupada, Nectar of Devotion lecture, October 31, 1972
Guru must be authorized person.
“Therefore guru must be authorized person, not that bhumi-phala-guru. No. I am guru,” no. You cannot become guru unless you are agent to draw out the mercy water from the ocean of mercy of Krishna. That is guru. And therefore a guru is not an ordinary person. He is the representative, bona fide representative of Krishna.” 
– Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam lecture, November 30, 1976
 
Guru cannot impart instructions without being authorized.
“The schoolmasters in the modern days are paid agents for giving some information, but the spiritual master is not a paid agent. Nor can he impart instruction without being authorized.”
– Srimad Bhagavatam: 2.9.43, purport 
“A Guru can be Guru when he is ordered by his Guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become Guru.”
– Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita lecture, 28th October 1975 
Srila Prabhupada predicts what happens when the acharya disappears? 
Unfortunately, when the acharya disappears, rogues and nondevotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called svamis, yogis, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on.
– Srimad Bhagavatam: 4.28.48 
Do not make addition, alteration.
Results of making additions and alterations. 
Many times they give me very great credit that I have done wonderful. Yes, I have done wonderful. But what is the reason? Because I am not a rascal. I speak what Krishna has spoken. That’s all. Very easy. Everyone can do that. Not only I. Any of you, you can do this. Simply speak what Krishna has said. That’s all. Don’t make addition, alteration. Then you become rascal.  Immediately you become rascal. 
– Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture, 1.5.29 Vrindavana, August 10, 1974
Danger of concocting 
Prabhupada: Ara na koriha mane asa. Don’t concoct. Don’t you sing daily? Ara na koriha mane asa. Don’t manufacture ideas. That is dangerous. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu teaches by His example. Guru more murkha dekhi’ karila sasana. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said to Prakashananda Sarasvati that “My spiritual master saw Me fool number one, so he has chastised Me, that ‘Don’t try to read Vedanta; chant Hare Krishna
– Conversations, June 23, 1976, New Vrindavan 
Go to right person who has seen.  Do not make your own interpretation. 
Prabhupada: Therefore Krishna says, tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya: “One who knows, go and understand from them, from the guru.” Don’t make your interpretation, rascal. You shall remain always a rascal. Then what is the use of all these verses? If it is so easy to understand Krishna then why Krishna says, tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya: “Then you will understand. Go to the right person who has seen.”
– Conversations, December 10, 1975, Vrindavana
 **newrule

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by Damaghosa dasa

Here is how, according the Bhaktivino​de Thakur, we come under illusion(m​aya)

March 1, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

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Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaj and Srila  Bhaktivinode thakur
I have been reading the book called Sri Caitanya Siksamrta by Bhaktivinode  Thakur. In the Fifth rainfall section he writes….
“False ego is identity of the self with matter. The identity of the  self  with his cit (spiritual) body before material  association is natural and proper, but the material identity arising through  material association is false and imposed. Another name for this condition is  ignorance. The false ego is in an intermediate position, a thread  binding the spiritual self to the material world. The self, situated in the  material world, identifies itself as material. Then in devolution, the false  ego becomes grosser, becoming known as citta, material  consciousness. When this same false ego, making judgements in the material world  become even grosser, it is called intelligence. Next when the false ego  contacts matter directly through the senses it is called mind. False ego  intelligence and mind are not part of the pure self, nor are they gross matter.  therefore they are called the linga deha (subtle body). Because the  spiritual body , spiritual activities and spiritual cultivation of the soul in  the pure state are still perceivable to a minute degree in the subtle  body, this intermediate signifying element is designated as linga (subtle). The awareness of self that is present in the spiritual body of the  soul thus manifests in a contracted state in the subtle body. However the  souls pure identification with his spiritual body is almost lost and becomes  forgotten. When a sense of self does arise in the subtle body, is attributes  that sense of identity to the material body. The identity of oneself as the  servant of Krsna, as  a pures soul with a spiritual body, becomes  transformed into a new identity as a servant of matter and the material sense  objects. In this condition the souls bondage by maya become complete.
or in the words of the Srimad Bhagavatam-
SB 4.22.31     When one deviates from his original  consciousness, he loses the capacity to remember his previous position or  recognize his present one. When remembrance is lost, all knowledge  acquired is based on a false foundation. When this occurs,  learned scholars consider that the soul is lost.
CONCLUSION- without the association of bona fide devotees of the  lord, our present conditioned so
called “understandings and knowledge” are all products of the  illusory energy of the Krsna. Therefore Srila Prabhupada has called spiritual  life a razors edge because our perceptions of what is actually spiritual is like  a thin thread in the subtle body, capable at any time of becomming covered over  again by Maya.
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
**newrule

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